Persian poem- Translated by A Z Foreman Poems Found in Translation

Poems Found In Translation: “Mirza Ghalib: I Daresay I Dare Not Say (From Persian)”

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Mirza Ghalib: I Daresay I Dare Not Say (From Persian) Posted: 27 Jun 2015 11:40 AM PDT The poet MÄ«rzā Asadullāh Khān Ghālib was born in Agra in 1796, and spent his life in Delhi, attached to Bahādur Shāh II, the last of the Mughal emperors. He is today more famous for his Urdu poetry, though he himself was much prouder of his Persian compositions. Much ink has been spilled regarding the relative merit of his Urdu and his Persian work. I am not qualified to pass judgement on the matter, and can only say that those Urdu poems of his which I have managed to make my way through seem considerably different in temperament from his Persian work. This particular poem has languished, beloved and half-understood, in my queue for years. Today I finally, and quite suddenly, feel I have a handle on it enough to translate it with at least some semblance of artistic fidelity. I Daresay I Dare Not Say By Mirza Ghalib Translated by A.Z. Foreman I dare not say my heart is hers though she stole it from me. ã€€ã€€ 　　I cannot call her tyrant though I see her cruelty. Hers is the battleground where men bear neither blade nor bow　　 　　Hers is the banquet-hall with neither wine nor revelry. Your courage will not help you here, the lightning flame bolts fast.　　 　　Die as the moth. No living salamander can you be.  We journey in love's heat and seek not water nor the shade　　 　　So do not speak of Kausar's running stream nor Tuba's tree. Life's tribulation ends, so why complain of tyranny? ã€€ã€€ 　　You suffer, and it is God's will. Let pain that will be, be.  The word held secret in my breast cannot be preached. I'll speak it ã€€ã€€ 　　Not from the pulpit but from high upon the gallows-tree.  　O strange it feels to deal with one so singularly mad.　　 　For Ghalib's love is not Islam, nor infidelity.  The Original: دل برد Ùˆ حق آنست كه دلبر نتوان گفت　　بيداد توان ديد Ùˆ ستمگر نتوان گفت در رزمگهش ناچخ Ùˆ خنجر نتوان برد　　در بزمگهش باده Ùˆ ساغر نتوان گفت از حوصله يارى مطلب صاعقه تيز است　　پروانه شو اين جا ز سمندر نتوان گفت هنگامه سرآمد، Ú†Ù‡ زنى لاف تظلم؟　　گر خود ستمى رفت، بمحشر نتوان گفت در گرم روى سايه Ùˆ سرچشمه نجوييم　　با ما سخن از طوبى Ùˆ كوثر نتوان گفت آن راز كه در سينه نهانست Ùˆ نه وعظست　　بر دار توان گفت Ùˆ بمنبر نتوان گفت. 　　　　　　　　كارى عجب افتاد بدين شيفته مارا 　　　　　　　　مؤمن نبود غالب Ùˆ كافر نتوان گفت. Romanization: Dil burd o haq ānast ki dilbar natawān guft BÄ“dād tawān dÄ«d o sitamgar natawān guft Dar razmgahaÅ¡ nāčax o xanjar natawān burd Dar bazmgahaÅ¡ bāda o sāɣar natawān guft Az hawsala yārÄ« matalab sā'iqa tÄ“zast Parwāna Å¡aw Ä«njā zi samandar natawān guft Hangāma sarāmad či zanÄ« lāf-i tazallum Gar xwad sitamÄ« raft ba mahÅ¡ar natawān guft Dar garm-i rÅ«y-i sāyah o sarčaÅ¡ma najōyÄ“m Bā mā suxan az tÅ«bā o kawsar natawān guft Ä€n rāz ki dar sÄ«na nahānast o na wa'zast Bar dār tawān guft o ba minbar natawān guft KārÄ“ ajab uftād badÄ«n Å¡Ä“fta mārā Mu'min nabuwad ɣālib o kāfar natawān guft